ASU Softball: Shuffled lineup fails to solve ASU hitting woes

(Photo by Nicholas Badders/ WCSN)

In search of an answer for a 22-inning scoring drought, Arizona State (25-13, 5-6 Pac-12) head coach Trisha Ford shook up the lineup Saturday afternoon for game two of the Sun Devils series with No. 1 UCLA (34-1, 8-0 Pac-12). Among the shuffling on Ford’s lineup card was center fielder Morgan Howe’s elevation to the leadoff spot, and third baseman Taylor Becerra’s move into the two-hole.

“For me complacency is your biggest enemy,” Ford said. “So just moving things around, getting people in a different mojo … just mixing things up and seeing what’s happening.”

With a different order for the Sun Devil offense, there were multiple scoring threats throughout the afternoon. In the first inning, ASU threatened with two walks, but left Becerra and Denae Chatman stranded when left fielder Skylar McCarty struck out swinging to end the frame.

Only an inning later, catcher Maddi Hackbarth led off the inning with a double which landed just inside the right field line. After shortstop Jade Gortarez laid down a sacrifice bunt to advance Hackbarth to third base, Kiara Kennedy and Bella Loomis each struck out swinging to end another scoring opportunity.

“We knew Rachel was on the mound and that it was going to be hard,” junior right fielder Kindra Hackbarth said. “We gave her a good two, three inning fight and she had to push harder so if we come out tomorrow with higher energy and more intense then I just think we’re going to get them.”

When all was said and done, the Sun Devils offensive drought was extended to 28 innings without a run as the altered lineup had no answers for UCLA redshirt junior Rachel Garcia. The 2018 ESPNW National Player of the Year continued her phenomenal season, improving her record to 15-0 in the circle, while lowering her ERA to 0.47.

“She knows how to mix spin, mix speed,” Hackbarth said.

“We had better at-bats early on, and we had people on,” Ford said. “We were doing some good things and then I think from the fourth, fifth on we kind of went back to our comfort zone that’s been here for the last couple of games.”

ASU’s scoreless drought has coincided with the team’s five-game losing streak, during which the Sun Devil pitching staff has allowed 37 runs. On Saturday afternoon, freshman Abby Anderson took the loss, giving up two runs in 2.1 innings pitched. After Anderson’s departure, redshirt junior Cielo Meza was hit hard by the Bruins, giving up seven runs in 2.2 innings pitched.

Throughout the afternoon, UCLA’s Taylor Pack and Aaliyah Jordan gave the Sun Devils fits. Pack delivered an RBI double in the top of the first inning to open the scoring, going 3-for-4 with a home run and 3 RBI. Jordan went 3-for-4 with 2 home runs and 3 RBI, punctuating the Bruin win with a laser to center field in the top of the sixth.

No. 21 Arizona State and No. 1 UCLA will continue their series Sunday afternoon at Farrington Stadium at 4 p.m. Despite the team’s recent struggles, Ford said she believes the team is close to achieving its goals.

“There was a lot of good things to build upon, it’s just about getting over that hump. We’re close to getting over that hump.”

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